ZAGREB, Feb 17 (Hina) - A group of six Croatian opposition parties believes elections in Croatia will be fair only with the revocation of a separate list for the diaspora, the introduction of a multi-party elections control, and the
guarantee of financial and media equality for all parties in the pre-electoral campaign. Talking to Hina in the wake of a motion for a purely proportionate electoral system, the Opposition Six representatives said the electoral model was not so important in itself. Most of them are sure the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) will lose at the elections regardless of the model. The president of the HDZ parliamentary bench, Vladimir Seks, on Tuesday told reporters it was probable parliament might adopt a motion according to which the entire Croatia would be one electoral unit, which would introduce a pure proportionate system. Seks said the motion was not HDZ's, bu
ZAGREB, Feb 17 (Hina) - A group of six Croatian opposition parties
believes elections in Croatia will be fair only with the revocation
of a separate list for the diaspora, the introduction of a multi-
party elections control, and the guarantee of financial and media
equality for all parties in the pre-electoral campaign.
Talking to Hina in the wake of a motion for a purely proportionate
electoral system, the Opposition Six representatives said the
electoral model was not so important in itself. Most of them are
sure the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) will lose at the
elections regardless of the model.
The president of the HDZ parliamentary bench, Vladimir Seks, on
Tuesday told reporters it was probable parliament might adopt a
motion according to which the entire Croatia would be one electoral
unit, which would introduce a pure proportionate system.
Seks said the motion was not HDZ's, but only one among those already
in parliamentary procedure. He told Hina the motion was the
Croatian Party of Rights' proposal for changes in the electoral
legislation.
"Slovakia also had one electoral unit, and since that didn't help
Meciar, I am sure it won't help the HDZ either," Social Democratic
Party vice president Zdravko Tomac said.
Jozo Rados of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) said his
party supported the introduction of a pure proportionate system
because, he added, it makes it difficult for some parties to out-
represent others, and makes electoral results manipulation
impossible.
The "Jutarnji List" daily paper on Wednesday carried an article
saying the HSLS believed the HDZ could "make the opposite move" and
introduce a system in which representatives would be elected in 120
electoral units according to the pure majority system, thereby
excluding the possibility of pre-electoral coalition-making among
parties.
"I am not sure the HDZ wants the whole Croatia to be one electoral
unit, because that model doesn't give them any prospects at all,"
Croatian Peasants' Party president Zlatko Tomcic said.
He agrees the HDZ will suggest another electoral model, but
believes the model "is totally unimportant" unless conditions set
by the opposition for fair elections were complied with.
Liberal Party spokesman Bozo Kovacevic has nothing against the pure
proportionate system.
"If the Opposition Six reached an agreement on the creation of a
coalition post-election government, the HDZ would be in the
opposition independently of the electoral system," he said.
Kovacevic said the HDZ had always adapted electoral systems to its
interests, but added there was no model at present which would
guarantee its electoral victory.
Istrian Democratic Assembly president Ivan Jakovcic said his party
was willing to go to elections at once, regardless of the electoral
model.
Croatian People's Party leader Radimir Cacic said any electoral
system more concrete in representing the citizens' votes was
acceptable.
He believes the electoral system should be chosen in due time, in
agreement between the position and the opposition, and that it
should not be changed before every elections.
(hina) ha jn